Half and half

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For the sitcom, see Half & Half

Half and half refers to various beverages or liquid foods made of an equal-parts mixture of two substances, including dairy products, alcoholic beverages, and soft drinks.

Contents

[edit] Dairy product

In the United States, half and half is a very light cream typically used in coffee. Its butterfat content is about 12.5%,[1] which makes it lower-calorie and more stable in coffee. It is widely available in the United States, both in individual-serving containers and in bulk. It is also used to make ice cream. The same product is known as half cream in the United Kingdom.

[edit] Alcoholic beverage

[edit] Australia

In New South Wales a "half and half" (also known as a "fifties") consists of half Tooheys New (a draught) and half Tooheys Old (a dark ale). In pubs where Tooheys New is not available, Carlton Draught may be substituted. This is commonly known as a "Flaming Carlo", (From Carlton and Old)
Other combinations are:
Tooheys Old & Fosters Light = "Bruiser"
Carlton & Fosters Light = "Tutti Fruitti"
Carlton & Lift with Iceblocks = "Swamp Water" or "Swampie"

[edit] Belgium

In Brussels, a "half en half" (Dutch for "half and half") is a mixture of white wine and champagne.

[edit] Ireland, England and North America

See also: Black and Tan

In Ireland and England, a half and half is a combination of Guinness draught and Harp Lager, with the Guinness in a layer on top.

In the North East of England, a request for a half and half would more commonly produce a combination of Scotch ale and India Pale Ale (IPA). This drink fell from favor when the Scottish & Newcastle brewery were obliged to sell many of their tied public houses and McEwan's Scotch and IPA disappeared from public bars across the North East.

In the United States and Canada, a capitalized Half & Half is Guinness draught and Harp lager. A lower case half & half is generic for Guinness draught and any lager/ale that will support the Guinness draught. When Bass ale is used, you have a "black and tan".

[edit] Scotland

In Scotland, a half and a half is a dram of whisky and a half-pint of heavy as a 'chaser'[3].

[edit] Switzerland

In Switzerland, and more particularly in Valais, a half & half is a mixture of dry and sweet liquor of the same fruit.[citation needed] In Romandy, a moitiƩ-moitiƩ (lit. half-half) can refer to coffee mixed with an equal amount of milk.[citation needed]

[edit] Beverages

Polar Beverages makes a soft drink called Half & Half which combines the flavors of natural grapefruit and lemon.

A half and half, also known as an Arnold Palmer, is a drink consisting of 1/2 lemonade and 1/2 iced tea. It is popular in the Southern United States as well as Baltimore, Maryland[citation needed].

[edit] Food

In the North West of England, principally Liverpool, and throughout Wales, the phrase half and half is used when you can't decide to have chips or rice with a take out meal.[citation needed] It can generally be ordered with any meal from a (usually) Chinese take away shop e.g. beancurd in blackbean sauce with greenpeppers, chips and rice. It is also popular with vivid yellow plain curry sauce draped over chips and boiled rice.

"Half rice half chips" is sometimes used as a slang phrase to describe a person of the bisexual persuasion.[citation needed]

[edit] Prostitution

The phrase "half and half" is used in the prostitution industry to describe a package deal of services that begin with the prostitute first performing fellatio upon the customer and then engaging in actual copulation to completion.[2] Some prostitutes narrow the selection of positions available in the intercourse segment to the Missionary position or the Cowgirl position.

This package is by far the most requested sexual service of in-call and out-call prostitutes. "Reverse half and half", wherein the intercourse precedes the fellatio, is not nearly as popular.[citation needed]

[edit] Notes

  1. ^ Legally, it may be between 10.5% and 18% butterfat.[1]
  2. ^ Elizabeth Joseph, "Sex for Hire: Real Stories of Prostitution in America", ABC News, March 21, 2008.[2]